Blood shortage hits Korle Bu

Scores of expectant mothers at the antenatal clinic of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) were left stranded yesterday as health authorities insisted on compulsory blood donations from patients before attending to them.

The new directive, according to the authorities, was to prevent the shortage of blood at the facility.

The doctors said blood donation had seen a decline in most health facilities across the country in the last three to four years; a situation, which they say, was affecting healthcare delivery, especially for pregnant women.

According to our sources, scores of pregnant women who visited the facility were not attended to because the failed to abide by the directive.

“Scores of pregnant women are frustrated because they are not being attended to. What is happening is that when they are called, they are told to donate two pints of blood so in the case where you come alone, you are supposed to bring two people to come and donate this blood…Most of them here are frustrated. There are no seats to sit on,” our sources said.

When Today spoke to some affected patients who declined to disclose their identities, they alleged that they were not given prior notice before the enforcement of the directive.

A pregnant woman, for instance, expressed her frustration about the development, saying, “I did not know about the directive. If they won’t take care of me they should just let me know. I do not want to waste my time here. “

Others called on the government to, as matter of urgency, intervene so as to avoid any national calamity.

Meanwhile, Today’s attempt to reach the Public Relations Officer of KBTH was unsuccessful as calls placed on his mobile phone went unanswered.